Door latch



Sept. 16, 1930. F. n. GRUND DOOR LATCH Filed April 29, 1929 gwuantoz due: any

Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLETCHER D. GRUNI), OF WESTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN SWISS COM- PANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO noon IiA'lCH Application filed April 29,

This invention relates to door latches, but more particularly to a door latch for use on automobile doors having means on the inside and outside of the door for retracting the latching bolt.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved door latch, which is simple in construction, reliable in operation, and is adapted to withstand the hard usage to 10 which latches of this character are subjected.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a door latch embodying the invention Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The illustrated embodiment of the inven tion comprises a door latch having a case plate 1 formed with a flange 2 at one side having an opening through which the outer end portion of the latching bolt 3 is adapted to project. Fitting over the inner portion of the bolt 3 is a cover plate 4 having inturned lips 5 extending through openings in the case plate 1 and turned over to secure the cover plate in position. Formed in the bolt 3 is a longitudinally extending opening 6, and disposed within the opening 6 and secured at opposite end portions is a hub member 7 havingoppositely projecting arms 8 engageable with ribs 9 on the bolt 3. The outer end of the bolt is turned upwardly, as indicated at 10, to provide an abutment against which one end or" the coil spring 11 may engage for urging the bolt 3 normally in projected position.

The bolt 3 is provided with an extension 3, which extends beyond the cover plate 4, and carries an extension 9 of the rib 9. Integral with the rib 9 and projecting outwardly 5 therefrom, is a lug 12, which is free to move with respect to the cover plate 4. Engageable with the lug 12 is an arm 13 formed on the lower end portion of a retracting lever 14, which is disposed at substantially right angles to the bolt 3, and the upper portion 1929; Serial N0. 358,781-

of which extends beyond the case plate 1. The lever or stem 14 is held in position by bearing member 15 having lips 16, which extend through the case plate, and are turned over against the opposite side thereof for holding the plate 15 in position. The case plate is pressed outwardly, as indicated at 17, so that the axis of the stem 14 is substantially in the plane of the case plate 1. A stop pin 18 on the case plate 1 provides an abutment for the opposite side of the arm 13, and is normally held thereagainst by a coil spring 19 encircling the stem 14.

The hub member '7 is formed with an opening 20 to receive a squared shank which, as will be readily understood, is provided with a handle positioned on the outside of the door for retracting the bolt 3. It will be manifest that the roll back, comprising the hub 7 and arms 8, provides retracting means for the bolt 3 operable from the outside of the door, and the stem or lever 14 is provided with a handle at the upper end portion, and serves as means on the inside of the door for retracting the bolt.

The above described door latch is compact, and may be manufactured at a relatively low cost. The number of parts is reduced to a minimum, and the majority of parts may be formed by simple stamping operations. The bolt 3 may be retracted independently of the inside and outside retracting means, due to the elongate slot 6 so that the door equipped with this latch may be shutwithout disturbing either of the retracting members. By providing a relatively small cover plate, and compactly arranging the members with respect to the cover plate, not only are the parts centralized and less likely to be damaged by hard usage, but the cost is kept to a bare minimum. Other advantages in construction and operation will be readily apparent to those schooled in this art.

l/Vhile the above description is given by way of illustration, it is not to be considered as limited, as numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A door latch including a case plate, a cover plate spaced therefrom, a spring-tensioned latch bolt slidable between said plates, a

roll back associated with the bolt for re- 'tracting same, an extension on the bolt projecting upwardly above the cover plate and having a lug thereon, a vertical spindle-disposed wholly above the cover plate and having its lower end terminati'ng'adjacent the top of the cover plate, and an arm onsaid lower end of the spindle disposed above the cover plate and engageable with said lug for retracting said bolt.

' In testimony" whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

FLETCHER n. GBUND. 

